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Neoliberals are vigilant, always on the look-out for any wayward move. In an August issue of the news magazine, The Economist briefly surveys what is happening around the world, uncovering what it sees as an alarming trend toward industrial policy in Europe, the US, Japan and elsewhere. It lists examples of governments supporting private companies in a bid to promote the growth of selected sectors and companies (that's what industrial policy amounts to in rich countries). Throughout the story it lectures the big bad State for being naughty and not learning from past lessons.
Free markets
Why is it naughty? Because it is making the big mistake of dabbling in markets, instead of backing off and letting business take care of itself. That's why. Sound familiar? Essentially, The Economist's assault on industrial policy can be broken-down into three related parts:
—Industrial policy, or any government policy for that matter, does more harm than good. The numerous attempts by governments everywhere to intervene have nearly always failed and ended up in the dustbin of history. It is a shameful waste as scarce resources and taxpayers' money are sunk into a financial black hole.
—Industrial policy entails picking winners and aiding them. That could only backfire because government couldn't possibly be smarter than markets and usually backs the wrong horse. Similarly, protectionism in developing countries doesn't work.
—As the flipside to that, since markets know best it's more efficient to let business decide who the winners will be. To illustrate this 'home truth', The Economist goes on to say: "no bureaucrat could have predicted the success of Nestlé's Nespresso coffee-capsule system—just as none foresaw that vacuum cleaners and tufted carpets …..would have been some of America's fastest growing industries in the 1970s."
In short, The Economist's position is that free markets—commonly defined as those without regulation or government intervention—are always best. And intervention by government such as industrial policy or regulation is doomed to fail because the market is no longer free. (I am belabouring the point as there seems to be some confusion among the public on basic definitional issues.)
The Economist cites as examples companies that had been picked in the past by governments and had since fallen by the wayside—Minitel (a French communications network), British Leyland (car producer), etc. In Spain the solar energy project backed by the state is struggling: "some green industrial policies have backfired already. The fixed-price subsidy system for solar energy has been a disaster," costing the government huge sums of money.
Although it mentions a few cases of success, The Economist's overall thrust is that there are far more losers than winners in intervention or industrial policy. Take Britain, for example. Its "long list of disasters, from cars to semiconductors, is etched in the public's memory. France's biggest blunder has been its attempt to construct an info-tech industry." On the strength of the argument summarized here, The Economist triumphantly takes a bow and rests its case. Amen.
Mercifully, at least it knows that it's best not to lead us deep into the fairy land of neoclassical economic theory where 'general equilibrium' reigns supreme–forever and ever. Don't even ask me to take you there; you will deeply regret it.
The marathon debate
Are you convinced by The Economist's case? I hope not because it is seriously flawed. Before taking a shot at its argument, however, let me briefly lead you through the big picture to put it in context.
The Economist is not saying anything new. The big debate about the state has been raging among economists for more than two centuries. The quarrel is about whether it is wise for government to poke its nose in markets. You would think a super-marathon like this would have ended long before now. It hasn't. That should tell you something about how painfully slow progress is made in big economic issues. Don't believe anyone—Nobel Prize winners included—who tells you otherwise.
To cut a long story short, the squabble ended in stalemate with no clear conclusion either way. As you can imagine, both sides obstinately stick to their positions unwilling to give ground. In the past, many battles had been fought but maybe none was fiercer than on the free trade versus protectionism front. This clash is especially relevant to industrial policy.
As in the big debate, both sides are caught in an eternal deadlock. In one corner of the wrestling ring are the neoliberal economists—The Economist is in this camp—clinging to their beloved model which postulates that free trade benefits every one. Facing them are the dissenting economists who hit back by insisting that because market failures are not uncommon, especially in developing countries, intervention is needed to protect 'infant' industry.
How to cheat in an argument
After the theoretical posturing, both sides proceed to bash each other by showing cases that support their respective positions. The fight drags on, with no end in sight as the evidence does not definitively favour one side or the other. But they continue to fight anyway, selectively citing examples to support their assertions.
The free traders would go through the data and point to failures in the African and South American countries where protectionism was a disaster, proclaiming that there's no alternative to free trade and markets. The non-conventional economists respond by pulling out detailed studies on several fast-growing countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, Brazil and, in earlier periods, Japan, the US and European countries, where protected industries had become winners, thereby 'proving' their claim that protectionism works.
In this context, it is worth pointing out one thing to set the record straight. It is a myth that western countries had developed through free trade. Ha-Joon Chang, a Korean political economist teaching at Cambridge, has shown in his books that most of them had industrialized through infant industry protectionism (a form of industrial policy).
In its jabs at industrial policy, The Economist is perpetuating the same trick, using the age-old tactic of showing selective evidence. By giving detailed coverage to the losers and almost ignoring the winners, it creates the impression that industrial policy is hopeless. So beware when you read economics articles and books or when officials here in Hong Kong make sweeping statements about the efficacy of free markets.
I, too, can play the game of giving examples that prop up a theory. I could re-emphasize success stories in state intervention and ignore the failures, but it just isn't fun anymore. Moreover, it's foolish to fall into the old trap and perpetuate the pointless contest. Going down that road won't convince the disbelievers; nor would it move the debate forward. All through this article, I only bring up cases in passing to clarify or dispute the claims made by The Economist. Those examples are enough to show that there are many success stories in industrial policy.
Besides selective use of evidence, The Economist resorts to other tricks to mislead and misinform. It is not above firing a cheap shot if that serves its purpose. In trying to show that China's economic success rests entirely on free markets and private business, it comments: "the likes of Li Shufu, who runs Geely, the car firm that bought Volvo, are entrepreneurs, not bureaucrats."
No one disputes that private enterprise is an important part of China's success. That isn't what the debate is about. It's about whether the state plays a pivotal role in the Chinese economy while allowing business room to operate. The way The Economist sees it, government (bureaucrats) and markets (entrepreneurs) are diametrically opposed. That's simply not the case.
The Economist is also guilty of telling half-truths. Rather defensively, it shows a small part of the story while covering up the bigger picture. For instance, it cites as example the mistake made by MITI (The Ministry of International Trade and Investment in Japan) to stop Honda expanding from motorbikes into cars. (Bad boy, MITI; that puts the score at government 0 markets 1).
But it conveniently omits mentioning that MITI was instrumental in laying the groundwork for Japan's economic take-off in the post-war period. It omits to tell how the mighty Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Sony, etc. were given a strong helping hand by the state both before and after they began their aggressive export drive. I leave the revision of the final score to you.
Being a severe critic, The Economist jumps at every chance to scold the 'bad boy'. It tells us that "Japanese industry, which has a leading position in nuclear power, got a shock when South Korea unexpectedly won a contract to supply four reactors to the United Arab Emirates. One reason was deemed to be lack of marketing support from government ministers."
Another cheap shot! Is that supposed to be a disaster? So Japanese bureaucrats screwed up a deal. That can happen to anyone, private companies included. Also, since the Koreans scooped the contract, shouldn't the Korean government get a pat on the back? That's not all. In its account, The Economist focuses on the slip-up without placing it in the wider context. It 'forgets' to point out that both the Japanese and Korean nuclear power industry had received heavy government backing before turning into major players on the international stage.
Learning to walk
The Economist admits that in Brazil "the likes of Petrobras (oil), Vale (mining) and Embraer (planes) were indeed created by the government." It then hastens to add: "they have all flourished because they were privatized, to a degree, and forced to compete with foreign firms in the 1990s. Part-privatization and competition created in a short time what decades of industrial policy had failed to do."
Once again, this type of interpretation is inaccurate and misleading. It downplays the importance of the protectionist period when the Brazilian companies were struggling to walk before they could run. At the same time it over-emphasizes the role of opening up to foreign competition and privatization. The implication is that if only government does away with industrial policy (learning to walk is unnecessary) and forces the companies to compete internationally right from the beginning (just start running), then all would be well.
That may be so to neoliberals who regard as sacred the 'laws' of free markets, but it is an absurd prescription for any developing country. The simple truth is: You can't run before you have learned to walk. In other words, it takes time to build up competitiveness. It is no coincidence that nearly all the Asian and South American export powerhouses have pursued some form of industrial policy before their overseas expansion.
(Hong Kong is the only exception but then unique historical factors made it possible for the territory to leap straight into international markets in the 1950s. HK is of course no longer a real exporter as nearly all production by local companies is done in China. Its demise as a production centre is due to the free-market leaning of the government and the rapid growth of China's production capability. In the absence of an industrial policy, there had been no enticement for HK companies to climb the industrial ladder, and the only option was relocation to the mainland to take advantage of low wages.)
Without an industrial policy, developing countries find it hard to press ahead. The past two decades saw unrelenting waves of trade liberalization and privatization across the world under the globalization banner, forcing nearly everyone to join the race. Yet no developing country has been able to follow the footsteps of the mega stars—China, Brazil and the other Asian 'tigers'. Simply pushing companies to compete internationally, as recommended by neoliberal economists, doesn't work.
To be fair, I must add that other economists who believe toddling 'babies' (the protected industries) eventually grow into great runners if given enough time are also mistaken. Many remain stunted and never grow up especially if they aren't properly fostered. Protectionism doesn't always work. Industrial policy is thus all about striking a balance, a delicate balance between nurturing the infant and inducing it to run at the right time. I will come back to this point later.
A country's development, of course, is a lot more than adopting an industrial policy. In nearly all the developed nations, the state had always played a key role, orchestrating the economy and society in a bid to move the country forward. That is obvious to anyone who studies history or political economy, and it is now slowly sinking in, even among economists. Justin Lin, a Chinese economist, says: "the historical record indicates that in all successful economies, the state has always played an important role in facilitating structural change."
The statement in itself is nothing new, at least not to those who read history. But coming from the chief economist of the World Bank, which has all along been a champion of free markets, it signals a welcome break from the old deadlock I mentioned earlier. Let's now turn to China, a living example of dynamic structural change.
China's economic miracle
It is no exaggeration to say that since China woke up some 30 years ago, it had made colossal strides, so much so that it is now beginning to shake the world. If you are not convinced just read or watch foreign news media with international coverage. The Economist (in fact almost all analysts) takes China's status as a giant for granted.
Where we differ is in the interpretation of its dramatic rise. To neoliberals like The Economist, "the overwhelming reason for China's miracle is that the state released its stifling grip and opened the country to private enterprise and the world." Really? Need I say this is another confusing half-truth that misinforms more than it enlightens. So if China could achieve a miracle by opening up, surely the same would happen to other countries that follow the same road.
The last time I checked, I didn't spot any other country that has been clocking up an average 8% GNP growth over the past 30 years, although a lot of developing countries are just as, if not more, open than China to private enterprise and the world. Did I miss the miracle countries or something? Am I making an unfair comparison?
What about Russia? The country also shook loose of the "stifling grip" of the state and began restructuring round about the time China opened up. In fact, Russia went further even than China in embracing markets, subjecting itself to 'shock therapy' and extensive privatization. This prescription, formulated by neoliberal economists for the Russian government, was designed to turn Russia into a free-market powerhouse. The therapy shocked the patient alright because the economy was in a semi-comatose state for several years before beginning to recover.
In privatization Russia did get rid of a large part of state assets, off-loading them to former KGB agents at rock-bottom prices. The windfall profits turned these 'entrepreneurs' into billionaires now living off rents from the privatized semi-monopolies. Meanwhile, the poor at the bottom of the heap got little to show for the radical economic reforms. In terms of performance, Russia is not even close compared to China and is certainly no miracle economy. Why didn't the miracle happen there?
Why didn't it happen everywhere in developing countries that opened up? The Economist would be hard-pressed to find an answer to these questions. Common-sense observations indicate that markets alone isn't enough to generate extraordinary success. There is something special about the forces at work that are propelling China forward at breathtaking speed.
The grey dragon
Although central planning had been dropped (after Deng Xiaoping took the helm in 1978) it was replaced by a different set of controls and measures. State intervention is still substantial and extensive. For this reason, China's development has been described as state-led.
That is clearly contrary to the textbook free-market model and makes nonsense of The Economist's simplistic assertion that the Chinese economy soared after the government released its grip. In reality, the state allows markets to operate while playing a strong directive role in the economy. The Chinese dragon is neither black (state-controlled) nor white (free market); it is grey! That is what confuses neoliberals like The Economist.
While neoliberal dogma prefers to set things in terms of black or white, policymakers would do well to recognize the developmental path of China. Instead of denying that intervention can work, they can learn much from studying the dynamics of how markets and government accommodate each other.
None of this is meant to suggest that the Chinese government has been perfect in balancing between freedom for enterprises and the need to steer them in strategic directions. Indeed, mistakes were made, some pet projects failed, corruption is a problem and red tape time-consuming. But overall, the state has got the important things right, as borne out by China's economic performance.
Unable to reconcile China's success with strong state intervention, The Economist simply turns a blind eye to anything that contradicts its position. It refuses to admit or mention that the government has made extensive use of industrial policy. But it is undeniable that the Chinese government:
—actively creates and subsidizes selected industries to climb the industrial ladder;
—intentionally undervalues the currency (renminbi) to discourage imports (this is a form of protectionist barrier) and promote exports;
—provides incentives such as investment and subsidies to successful companies who start to export (after they have learned to 'walk').
This type of industrial policy, plus the other extensive controls and regulations, would be condemned as grave errors by The Economist and neoliberals, yet China surges forward.
New chapter of competition
Indeed, the emergence of the dragon is testing the cherished free-market model to its limits. In the 1980s China began exporting cheap textiles, toys and plastic household items. From this humble beginning, it has since been making inroads into nearly everything—from cars and ships to airplane wings and parts, electronic appliances and semiconductors, rocket launchers and machine tools. The list is endless. Against the dragon's onslaught, western manufacturing is crumbling.
What is scary to the west is the speed at which China moves up the industrial ladder. Starting from labour-intensive production, it has moved on to capital-intensive, medium-tech industries, and now shifts gears and moves into high tech, mounting raids on that exclusive domain of the developed countries. All this within the space of 30 years. And the Chinese juggernaut shows no sign of slowing. Complete de-industrialization of the west now looms on the horizon.
No wonder governments—from Bonn to Washington and Tokyo—are deeply worried. While their economies stutter along China powers ahead at top speed, challenging them on every front. Competitive pressures are mounting to a critical point, forcing governments to accept that free markets have not helped much in coping with the dramatic advances of China.
That is the underlying force compelling the west lately to promote industry with the aid of industrial policy. As usual, economic reality, rather than sermonizing about markets, is dictating changes. It is understandable, too, that The Economist tells governments off for 'misbehaving', but it can't stop the battleground from shifting to new terrain. More state intervention is on the way in the new chapter of intensifying competition.
New approach
What conclusions can we draw about industrial policy? Clearly, there have been successes as well as failures. Industrial policy can work, sometimes spectacularly as in China and other East Asian countries (not to mention many western countries before they industrialized). It has failed miserably too in other cases. Endless theorizing and squabbling about the efficacy of free markets, free trade or state intervention is therefore futile. There is no silver bullet or magic prescription. To move the age-old debate forward, that must be accepted as a starting point.
Once this is recognized, we can step out of the deadlock and ask a fresh set of questions. Why does intervention work in some cases and not in others? Why was industrial policy or protectionism viable in some countries/industries but not in others?
These can be modified to a pose more general questions: Under what conditions does intervention/industrial policy work? What are the circumstances that would make failure likely?
This pragmatic approach is more rewarding than slinging mud at each other as economists have been doing. Answering those questions will give a better understanding of what it takes to plan and implement an effective industrial policy, pointing the way forward in policymaking.
Tentative ideas
I don't pretend for one minute to have the complete answers to the questions. As far as I know, this is still largely uncharted territory. Way back in my post-graduate days I had done a little thinking and research in this area while completing a study for the United Nations on a related but different topic. At that time only a handful of scholars were working on linked issues. The paper I wrote is lost but I remember a few ideas. Here are some of them.
Protectionist or industrial policy in developing countries could work if certain conditions are met:
—the set goals have to be realistic. The country's industrial capability must be taken into consideration before deciding to foster a sector by means of import barriers or subsidies. Over-ambitious industrial policy usually ends in disaster. It would be crazy, for example, to build a petrochemicals plant in a country with no experience in chemical engineering.
—a gradualist approach is best to progress the protected sector from the production of simpler parts and components to more sophisticated parts or processes. The progression must be carefully planned in advance; bottlenecks and technical problems need to be anticipated before the project begins;
—every measure must be taken to ensure that the protected sector (infant) 'grows up' to compete internationally; tariffs in place to protect the companies are to be eventually phased out over a period of time, inducing the companies not to depend on protection; subsidies for exporters could be provided as an incentive for them to begin exporting as soon as possible;
—all relevant expertise in production, engineering, economics, logistics, etc. must coordinate closely as a team to work out a feasible plan and identify likely problems right from the beginning; it needs to continually monitor the project(s) and liaise with the protected companies to ensure progress; the team needs to be attached to a government department/authority with power to act and assist;
—commitment on the part of the government bureaucracy to industrial policy must be elicited if possible.
Those are some of the tentative ideas I came up with after a quick survey of selected sectors. I won't list the rest. Very often, industrial policy failed because even basic conditions listed here were not met or thought through before projects began.
As to industrial policy in developed countries, protection isn't really a relevant option, and chances of failure might even be higher. The same approach—asking the questions posed above—should also lead to interesting answers, though I have not explored this field in any detail.
A step in the right direction
More recently, Lin, the World Bank chief economist, has offered suggestions in his paper on how developing countries can pursue an efficient industrial policy. Essentially, Lin's idea is that a country must stick close to its "comparative advantage" in protecting industry. For example, low-income countries, which have a comparative advantage in labour-intensive production (because they have cheap labour), are advised to focus on this area and not deviate too far from it (into capital-intensive or high-tech industries).
His proposal is in line with the first and third (he also discussed this) conditions I listed above, though Lin's suggestion is dressed up in the language of economics. The six-step process he outlines in his paper goes into details on how to single out the sectors that fit a country's comparative advantage and should be targeted for protection. All of this is a step in the right direction. The other conditions listed above have less to do with economics than with project planning and administration, but they are also important to ensure success of industrial policy.
At last, some progress is made (if the World Bank follows Lin's suggestions) and some economists are taking a pragmatic approach. But that is only a start. Much more research needs to be done to understand the conditions under which industrial policy would work (or fail). The conditions I outlined are far from complete.
The question as to how far a country can deviate from its comparative advantage and take on more ambitious projects to climb further up the rungs of the industrial ladder is open to debate. Lin and Chang have discussed this recently at length. In my opinion, the answer depends on subjective judgment and the economics tradition or 'school' one follows.
To sum up, The Economist's story on industrial policy does more to mislead than to inform by telling many half-truths and giving selective examples that back its ideological position—government can do nothing right; free markets are always best. The most instructive lesson you can learn from it is how to cheat in an argument by copying its tricks.
In China state intervention has been substantial and extensive. Its success is testing the free-market model to its limits as western manufacturing crumbles against the dragon's onslaught. Governments in the west are now reinstating industrial policy in a desperate attempt to stay ahead in the race.
The state had played a pivotal role in nearly all successful economies in the past. Industrial policy has also worked spectacularly in China and other East Asian success stories. There is thus little doubt about the critical role of the state in the development of an economy. While that much is clear it would be a big mistake to conclude that intervention is the silver bullet. For it clearly has failed miserably in many instances too.
Universal statements about the efficacy of free markets or government intervention are therefore indefensible. A new approach is needed to break free from the age-old deadlock theorists have been trapped in.
Instead of arguing endlessly about whether free markets are better than intervention or vice versa, economists should move on and look at the conditions under which government intervention or industrial policy is likely to work or fail. (Actually, I know I am asking too much but that's another story.) I have made a few suggestions along those lines, as has Justin Lin, but they are far from complete.


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Vasavi Academy of Education
Vasavi Academy of Education was established in 1981 by a few prominent members of
the society under the stewardship of Sri Pendekanti Venkatasubbaiah an eminent social
worker, an able administrator and former Governor of the States of Bihar and Karnataka
with the laudable objective of providing quality education on non-commercial basis
to all, particularly in the field of professional education. Sri Pendekanti Venkatasubbaiah
served as Hon. Chief Patron of the Academy guiding its destiny and was indeed a
friend, philospher and guide throughout his life.
In this age of rapid change and development in science and technology, education
has come to be recognised as a major input for the speedy development of the nation
and the upliftment of its people. Vasavi Academy of Education is an organisation
that has been making vital contributions towards this goal.
The Academy has sponsored and established several institutions in Andhra Pradesh.
Welcome to the offical website of Vasavi Academy of Education, Hyderabad, India.
Thanks for taking the time to visit our website.
"Striving for a symbiosis of technological excellence and human values."
"To arm young brains with competitive technology and nurture holistic development
of the individuals for a better tomorrow."
"Education without quality is like a flower without fragrance. It is our earnest
resolve to strive towards imparting high standards of teaching, training and developing
human resources."
Vasavi College of Engineering
9-5-81, Ibrahimbagh
Hyderabad - 500 031
Andhra Pradesh
Tel: +91 - 40 - 23146003
Fax: +91 - 40 - 23146090
Web: www.vce.ac.in
Pendekanti Institute of Mgmt.
9-5-81, Ibrahimbagh
Hyderabad - 500 031
Andhra Pradesh
Web: www.pimhyd.ac.in
Pendekanti Law College
D.No. 1-1-338, New MCH # 465
Chikkadapally, Hyderabad - 500 020
Andhra Pradesh
Tel: +91 - 040 - 27654146
Fax: + 91 - 040 - 27661990
Web: www.plchyd.in
Vasavi Public School
3-5-215, Himayatnagar
Hyderabad - 500 029
Andhra Pradesh
Tel: +91 - 40 - 23221712
Fax: +91 - 40 - 23520830, 23525323
© Copyright 2010 Vasavi Academy of Education, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh


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Publishing & protecting your right
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|Message view
|« Date » · « Thread »
|« Date » · « Thread »
|"Antonio Gallardo" <agalla...@agssa.net>
|Re: [IMP] Re: Samples block SWF not working....
|Mon, 24 May 2004 06:04:25 GMT
Torsten Curdt dijo: > Though I think we should deprecate > the SWF stuff anyway. The used library > is dead and still needs some work. > WDYT? Fix it and deprecate it after > 2.1.5 is out? ...and of course replace > it it with a flash example. While I am not a Flash fan. I thought it is not good idea to deprecated it. Because many people is using flash or just this is the perception I got in my country. Seems to be a "hot" technology around web designers. They are developing or looking for "flash" these days. I know Cocoon is a step forward of these solutions. But the same as JSP I think we can support it as an entry point for some people. WDYT? BTW, I was reviewing the CVS of the spark library and the newest commit is 2 years old (the exception is a 21 month license file). As you, I think the project is dead. If someone what to check it: CVS repo: http://cvs.berlios.de/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/spark-xml/ Website: http://developer.berlios.de/projects/spark-xml/ Best Regards, Antonio Gallardo
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Supreme Court Limits FMLA Claims Against States
By Lisa R. Hasday, Litigation News Associate Editor – May 14, 2012
State employees cannot sue their employers for money damages under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provision allowing leave for self care, according to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. Coleman v. Court of Appeals of Maryland. The Court held that Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity bars such suits, confirming the trend set by the circuit courts of appeals that had addressed the question (including the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Circuits).
No Pattern of Discrimination
Petitioner Daniel Coleman worked for the Maryland Court of Appeals as an executive director of procurement and contract administration. In 2005, he investigated and suspended a member of his staff, who was related to one of Coleman's supervisors. In 2007, that supervisor sent Coleman a letter of reprimand relating to a different matter. A few months later, Coleman was placed under a doctor's care for 10 days and requested sick leave. Coleman's other supervisor told Coleman that he would be fired if he did not resign. Coleman alleged violations of Title VII and the FMLA.
The district court dismissed the Title VII claim for failure to state a claim and dismissed the FMLA claim on the ground that Congress unconstitutionally abrogated the states' immunity when it passed the FMLA's self-care provision. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed. Coleman then petitioned the Supreme Court to review the FMLA claim.
The self-care provision requires employers to grant up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for self care of a serious health condition, provided certain statutory requisites are met. In a 5–4 decision, with one justice concurring only in the judgment, the Court found that Congress's attempt to abrogate the states' immunity from suit exceeded Congress's power under Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Congress failed, in the plurality's view, to "identify a pattern of constitutional violations and tailor a remedy congruent and proportional," a test that the Supreme Court established four years after the FMLA was enacted, in City of Boerne v. Flores, for determining Congress's Fourteenth Amendment powers. "The evidence documented in support of the self-care provision is, to a large degree, unrelated to sex discrimination, or to the administration of the family-care provisions," wrote Justice Anthony M. Kennedy for the plurality.
The Court previously considered the FMLA's family-care provisions in Nevada Department of Human Resources v. Hibbs. In Hibbs, the Court held that state employees could recover money damages for state violations of those provisions because Congress had validly abrogated the states' immunity. Congress found that states frequently discriminated on the basis of sex in their family-leave policies and practices, assuming and reinforcing a stereotype that caring for family members is women's work.
The Dissenting and Concurring Views
According to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the self-care provision at issue in Coleman was also a response to state-sponsored sex discrimination—against pregnant women. Justice Ginsburg's dissent argues that the provision does not mention pregnant women specifically because "Congress sought to ward off the unconstitutional discrimination it believed would attend a pregnancy-only leave requirement."
Moreover, Justice Ginsburg explains that Congress also included the self-care provision to prevent discrimination against women based on an employer's belief that they would be more likely than men to take FMLA leave. "Congress was told that men and women take medical leave approximately equally," she wrote. "Congress therefore had good reason to conclude that the self-care provision—which men no doubt would use—would counter employers' impressions that the FMLA would otherwise install female leave." In the plurality's view, however, "[t]he 'few fleeting references' to how self-care leave is inseparable from family-care leave fall short of what is required for a valid abrogation of States' immunity from suits for damages."
Justice Antonin Scalia, who concurred only in the judgment, found it troubling that the plurality and the dissent reached such different results after applying the same test. "[T]hat flabby test is 'a standing invitation to judicial arbitrariness and policy-driven decision making,'" he wrote.
The Import of Coleman
"At first blush the opinion appears to be a straightforward constitutional analysis that has some logic to it," observes Andrew S. Pollis, Cleveland, cochair of the ABA Section of Litigation's Civil Rights Litigation Committee. "But under the surface you're seeing a Supreme Court that is by a slim margin hostile to any effort to standardize our economy and our social safety nets."
In that sense, Hibbs, which upheld the right to sue states under the FMLA's family-care provisions, was "an amazing outlier," remarks Debra L. Raskin, New York City, a member of the Section of Litigation's Employment and Labor Relations Committee. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a concurring opinion in Coleman "only to reiterate [his] view that Hibbs was wrongly decided."
Alternate Avenues for Relief
What options remain for someone like the Coleman petitioner, who requested sick leave from his state employer and was told he would be fired if he did not resign? "If the State agrees with petitioner that damages liability for violations of the self-care provision is necessary to combat discrimination against women," the plurality opinion offers, "the State may waive its immunity or create a parallel state law cause of action."
Justice Ginsburg's dissent notes two other options. First, an employee may seek injunctive relief against a state official pursuant to the Court's decision in Ex parte Young, a 1908 case that established such suits as proper. Maryland conceded that the self-care provision remains valid under the Commerce Clause and that it therefore must comply, even if its employees may sue only for injunctive relief. Second, the U.S. Department of Labor may sue a state under the FMLA and recover monetary relief on an employee's behalf. Furthermore, adds Raskin, an employee could claim that denial of self-care leave is a failure to provide reasonable accommodation under federal or state disability laws.
"I'm not telling my clients they don't need to worry," says the Section's Employment and Labor Relations Committee vice-chair Brian W. Koji, Tampa, Florida, who represents state employers. "In light of this decision, state employers might want to reevaluate their leave policies and practices to ensure that they are being structured and administered in a non-discriminatory manner," advises Ann Marie Painter, Dallas, former cochair of the Section's Employment and Labor Relations Committee.
Keywords: FMLA, Family and Medical Leave Act, discrimination, family care, job protection
This article presents the views of the author alone and not necessarily those of her employer, the U.S. Department of Justice.
- » Coleman v. Court of Appeals of Md., No. 10-1016, 2012 U.S. LEXIS 2315 (Mar. 20, 2012).
- » Nevada Dep't of Human Res. v. Hibbs, 538 U.S. 721 (2003).
- » City of Boerne v. Flores, 521 U.S. 507 (1997).
- » Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123 (1908).
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'Through her poems, Kath Walker communicates the frustrations of Aborigines in the white world; her poems are brilliant and original.' (Source: GoodReads website)
'Oodgeroo's writing is often a provocative and passionate plea for justice. My People is a collection of poetry and prose and a reminder of Oodgeroo's contribution to indigenous culture and the journey to reconciliation.' (Source: Reading Australia website)
'Inside Black Australia', is the first anthology of Aboriginal poetry to be published, it contains 150 poems by more than 40 Aboriginal writers and poets.
Includes poems, memories, anecdotes, personal notes and recollections by Oodgeroo, as well as photographs and an appreciation by Judith Wright.
'Concert of Voices combines poetry, fiction, drama and essays in a wide-ranging anthology of world literature in English. The collection includes a number of established writers who, despite their great reputations, have often been perceived as standing apart from the main currents of English literature (and have rarely found their way onto English Department reading lists). Most selections, through, are by a remarkable range of much less established authors. In addition to the selections, the editor has provided a general introduction and a brief biographical note on each author.' (Source: back cover)
Presents artwork, prose and poetry of thirty-six contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers from the off-shore island, the Northern Territory, and all six states of Australia.
A comprehensive, generously illustrated reference work on a multitude of aspects of Aboriginal history, culture and art. Although the emphasis is on visual art and artists, the many survey entries on indigenous languages, traditions, writing and performance provide a much wider context.
The Companion is divided into two separate yet interconnected parts. Part One consist of essays by indigenous and non-indigenous scholars and experts, interspersed with textual and visual examples. Broadly chronological in structure, it contains the following sections: 'Foundations of Being' (subdivided into 'Religion', 'Ritual and Sacred Sites', 'Kinship and Gender'); 'Colonial and Post-colonial Scenes' (art and culture in different regions of Australia); 'Renegotiating Tradition' ('Urban Aboriginal Art', 'Film and Communications', 'Literature', 'Music', 'Performance', 'Fibre-work and Textiles', 'Cultural Meeting Places', buildings and architecture) ; 'The Public Face of Aboriginality' ('Aboriginalities', 'Reception and Recognition of Aboriginal Art', 'Cross-Cultural Exchange', 'The Way Ahead'). An index to Part One provides easy access to topics.
Part Two is organised as a reference section and consists of alphabetical entries on artists, organisations, key issues and ideas.


text: Yohan NaftaliFebruary 11, 2010OS0 comments 9000 Official OS 22.214.171.1244 Zain Kuwait Facebook Comments Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Related Tags: 22.214.171.1244, 9000, Official, OS, Zain KuwaitYohan Naftali Leave a comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.


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The Beach Girls Trailer (1982)
"Celebrate summer and fun with a slew of bikini-clad beach bunnies!" 26 March 1982 Comedy 91 mins
School is out, and three girls head to the beach for vacation. Two of the girls are world-wise party-goers who attempt to loosen up their naive, virginal friend, whose uncle has allowed the girls to stay at his beach house. When the near-sighted, drug smuggling Captain Bly dumps his cargo of marijuana, the bales wash up on shore. The two party girls, Ginger and Ducky, quickly stuff the dope into giant bags and spirit it back to the beach house, where it fuels a party with assorted misfits, delivery persons, and passersby.
Watch the official The Beach Girls 1982 trailer in HD below or find more The Beach Girls videos on Vidimovie.


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Michael Moore's new documentary finally has a title, with his examination of the global economic crisis going by the name of Capitalism: A Love Story.
The announcement appeared on the Variety website today, with Moore proclaiming it to be the perfect date movie. "It's got it all" he claimed, "lust, passion, romance and 14,000 jobs being eliminated every day. It's a forbidden love, one that dare not speak its name. Heck let's just say it: It's capitalism."
The Overture film will apparently focus on the disastrous impact that corporate dominance and out-of-control profit motives have on the lives of Americans and citizens of the world.
Capitalism: A Love Story will hit US screens on October 2, a year and a day after the Senate voted to approve a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. Paramount Vantage is handling international distribution, with the global release to follow soon after.


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Jason's wealth of experience at software and data companies aligns perfectly with our growing needs for a leader who will head our privacy practices and guide legal strategic decisions.
Pasadena, Calif. (PRWEB) October 08, 2015
Spokeo (http://www.spokeo.com), the leading people search engine, today announced Jason Matthes as newly appointed senior vice president and general counsel. Matthes joins the people search engine with more than 10 years of experience providing strategic legal counsel to both public and privately-held software and data companies.
"As Spokeo continues to grow its offerings into the consumer, enterprise and genealogy spaces, we are excited to add Jason to our team," said Harrison Tang, chief executive officer, Spokeo. "His wealth of experience at software and data companies aligns perfectly with our growing needs for a leader who will head our privacy practices and guide legal strategic decisions."
Matthes most recently worked as vice president and general counsel of Appriss, a private equity-owned provider of software and data solutions. Prior to Appriss, he served as vice president and general counsel at Cortera. Early in his career, Matthes assumed a key in-house legal role at Seisint, a venture-backed data provider that was acquired by LexisNexis; he continued on with LexisNexis following the acquisition as senior counsel for LexisNexis Risk Management. Matthes also previously held senior roles at the software unit of ABB, the global leader in power and automation technologies, and the receivables management division of TSYS, a global payment processing company.
Matthes obtained his B.A. at the University of Miami and his J.D. at Nova Southeastern University.
For more information about Spokeo, visit http://www.spokeo.com or follow @spokeo on Twitter.
About Spokeo
Spokeo is a leading people search service using proprietary technology to organize public information into comprehensive yet easy-to-understand online profiles. Based in Pasadena, Spokeo makes it easier than ever to help reunite friends and family, browse celebrities, and discover information about your online footprint, by simply searching a name, address, email, phone or username. Spokeo was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list and as one of Los Angeles Business Journal's Fastest Growing Companies.


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Dear visitor of The Richard Long Newsletter,
today Sir Richard Long will have an opening of his work at Lisson Gallery in London.
As soon as possible this newsletter will show images of the works in 'Richard Long: Circle to Circle'.
Gerard Vermeulen,
N.B. For publishing Richard Long's work please contact DACS (Design and Artist's Copyright Society)
at email@example.com or visit www.dacs.org.uk for further information.


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Overall benefits
CyclePoint serves the end-to-end journey by offering a secure 'one
stop shop' which encourages travel to and from the station by bike.
CyclePoint delivers health and environmental benefits
by increasing levels of cycling and promoting its positive impacts.
CyclePoint increases capacity on rail services by encouraging
passengers to leave their bikes at the station.


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Project Description
Nino is 50 centimeters tall. He is neutered and he was born on 5 July 2008. Nino was frightened for a long time but now he is happily running around the yard with rest of the dogs. By nature he is a real guard dog and Grizli is his friend so two of them are 'guarding' the front yard in the shelter. Nino is not very demanding and would be happy to have his own yard with a little house that he can take care of.
SPONSOR: Juliane Holzapfl, Germany, 2018
SPONSOR: Juliane Holzapfl, Germany, 2018
SPONSOR: Sanja Sivac, Hlebine, 2016


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Shooting a handgun at a small target 75 feet away is a lot more difficult than it looks; it's also a lot of fun.
"Since we started the matches we've seen a lot of interest from men and women and young people," said John Miller, General Manager at Frontier Firearms in Kingston.
Frontier has been hosting indoor matches sponsored by the Glock Shooting Sports Foundation. The Glock Company makes semi-automatic pistols for law enforcement, military and civilian use.
By Jason Perry
Recently there was a bit of stir on social media and in fishing circles.
Kingston resident and local fisherman Matt Girman caught a 51-pound catfish from Watts Bar Lake recently.
After TWRA shared its picture of Girman posing with his monster fish on Facebook, social media lit up with comments and people sharing the picture.
"When Brad Daugherty (TWRA representative) put that picture up online, I was in shock," Girman said. "I have 50 pictures online of fish of that caliber.
The Harriman Blue Devils won the first game of the season series with Wartburg, 10-4, Monday night at Harriman.
Hunter Webb picked up the win for Harriman on the hill as he went six complete innings.
Caleb McCarty started out with a walk and Brandon Grimes drove him to third, followed by Caleb Constant bringing McCarty home with a sacrifice fly.
It gave Wartburg a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning.
By Melissa Coley
Harriman coach Chasity Lowery along with Wartburg coach Jana Gouge teamed up in a two game series to raise money to fight against diseases that currently do not have a cure. The slogan "Bring Home a Cure" was used in the games as the Lady Devils and Lady Bulldogs played on March 26th and 27th with game one being played at Harriman while game two was played at Wartburg.
Due to the wild weather in March, the Kingston Lady Yellow Jacket softball team had to wait until Monday evening to open at home.
It appeared to be worth the wait, though. Kingston blew out Scott County, outscoring the Lady Highlanders 28-0 in two games of a double-header.
"This group of girls makes my job a lot easier," Kingston Coach Wendy Johnson said. "They're seasoned, they're experienced, and they're smart and I'm lucky to be in this position and I'm lucky to have them."
The Midway Green Wave couldn't get their bats going losing both games of a double-header to Oneida, 3-2 and 2-1, Tuesday evening at Midway.
Both games came down to pitching and the teams taking advantage of the hits when they happened.
The Indians struck first.
Oneida was able to put three on the board in the second inning thanks to three hits.
It was an anomoly and wasn't repeated for the rest of the game as Green Wave pitcher CJ Huff was able to keep the Indian batters guessing for the rest of the evening.
The Oliver Springs Bobcats played host to the Oakdale Eagles in game two of their two-game series Tuesday night.
The Bobcats were able to pick up the second win in as many nights with a final of 10-1.
"A couple guys got going for us tonight and that really helped," said Oliver Springs head coach Tony Kegley
"Sweeps are always great, it's very hard to beat a team twice in two nights. We are playing really good defense right now."
For the second night in a row, the Blue Devil offense put big numbers up on the scoreboard to defeat the Wartburg Bulldogs by a final score of 14-3.
Noah Dickerson got things going for the Devils, getting on base due to an error.
Dickson didn't stay on base long as he got out at second on a fielder's choice.
Brady Stubbs became the new recipient of firstbase and advanced to second as Brandon Turpin drew a walk.
Copyright © 2018
The Roane County News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Roane County and Kingston, Tennessee, and the surrounding area.


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Bedford, Virginia and Great River Institute visitors may want to check this out first.
This site represents my personal inner journey, including references to the innumerable experiences that have arisen out of study and training in the esoteric arts and sciences, as well as nearly twenty years experience in the martial arts. There are many paths on the inner journey, and martial arts is only one of them. I value other paths, and have walked on some of them. Sometimes I have found myself caught and bloodied in thorn thickets, and other times I have stood on high peaks, experiencing their strong winds or serene vistas. Some travelers of the inner way are pathfinders or explorers; others are scouts or followers. I am a simple hiker.


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Play Warmer Lubricant 3.38oz/100ml
Play Warmer Lubricant 3.38oz/100ml
Product Description
To make things even hotter when things get close, Play Warmer by Durex is a silky lubricant that gently warms on contact with skin. Friction, movement or gentle blowing will up the sensation even more, heightening enjoyment and adding excitement to playtime. Warmer is water-soluble and easy to clean, it rinses off with plain water. Safe for use with condoms.
- Size: 3.38 oz
- Special Features: Unscented, Warming
Product Code: 70055
UPC Code: 067981700558


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Quick Reference
A severe generalized form of anaphylaxis in which there is widespread release of histamine and other vasoactive substances causing edema, constriction of the bronchioles, heart failure, circulatory collapse, and sometimes death.
Subjects: Sports and Exercise Medicine — Chemistry.
Related content in Oxford Index
Reference entries
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If you are looking for excellent prospects you will find them with us: ETECTURE is an innovative and solution-oriented specialist in customized, web-based software solutions. Our headquarters are in Frankfurt am Main, and we have branches in Düsseldorf, Karlsruhe, Munich, and London. Experience a challenging environment and a team with big plans — including with you!
We are looking for an ambitious personality to strengthen our team as soon as possible as a
Project Manager Assistant in Frankfurt am Main
Your tasks
- You will assist your colleagues with project planning and project control.
- You will have an overview of the project sequence and will coordinate certain project phases.
- You will support your project team in the creation of expert/technical concepts
and during their implementation.
- In the team, you will be responsible for your tasks.
Your profile
- You have good technical background knowledge of the web environment.
- You have already had some initial project management experience.
- You are proactive in taking the initiative and distinguish yourself with solution-based thinking and actions.
- You are a friendly, efficient and reliable team player,
- You have good communication skills and are a quick learner with a strong desire to learn.
- You have very good spoken and written German and good spoken and written English.
What you can expect
A responsible position with challenging tasks and projects, a professional and competent team with flat hierarchies, needs-based further training opportunities, and a pleasant working environment in a modern and socially responsible company that we are very proud of.
Is this you?
If so, send us your application documents, specifying your possible starting date and your salary expectations, by email to firstname.lastname@example.com or to the address below. If you have any further questions about the job description, we will be happy to answer these in advance.
We look forward to receiving your application!


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Maritime economy
The maritime economy constitutes an important structural pillar for the region Weser-Ems. More than 400 companies from the maritime core sectors are involved in the region with more than 18,000 employees in the region. The complete maritime value added chain can be found in Weser-Ems. As maritime location the region has a high significance for Germany.
In Weser-Ems 65 shipping companies are located with approximately 2,000 employees. From the locations Leer, Haren (Ems) and Emden alone approximately 750 ships are operated worldwide. Almost 200 companies in the region Weser-Ems are involved as suppliers and service providers for the maritime economy with about 5,900 employees. The 18 regional companies in the area of shipbuilding not only include large shipyards but also small boat builders. The major share of employees is employed by the Jos. L. Meyer shipyard in Papenburg with 3,100 employees and further indirect 17,000 jobs all over Germany. Nearly all goods can be handled in the ports of the region with almost 3,000 employees. In this, the individual port locations respectively have particular specialisations. The sector of marine technology including maritime performances in favour of the offshore wind industry constitutes an increasingly important segment with already approximately 40 companies in the region.
In the sector of maritime knowledge infrastructure the region has education institutions, which transfer nautical and maritime knowledge for education and training purposes, as well as research institutions, which mainly render performances and services of applied research and development. This includes the university Emden/Leer with the faculty maritime shipping at the location Leer as well as affine disciplines in Emden. At the location Leer also the maritime competence centre (MARIKO) is located. In the eastern part of Weser-Ems is the Jade University with the faculty maritime shipping at the location Elsfleth as well as affine disciplines at the locations Oldenburg and Wilhelmshaven. Elsfleth is additionally the location of the maritime competence centre for the sector of training and education. In Elsfleth and Leer there are maritime simulation systems of international standard.


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Puhelintuki jobs
Looking for a virtual medical assistant for Part- time work. 1. Speaks fluent English (Spanish a big plus) 2. Medical background plus 3. Follow up on phone messages left on voicemail and help screen patient for appropriateness to schedule. 4. Phone line for calling US number; help set up appointments 5. Send out initial appointment paperwork by email to new patients 6. Knowledge of med...
I'm looking for skilled Customer Service Agent - Candidates must have the ability to cope with stress and rejections on a daily basis. Passionate and dedicated individual, Outgoing, Creative and highly adaptable to changes.
We are a tech company that is rapidly expanding and we are seeking enthusiastic customer service representatives to work on this long-term project. Representatives will be responsible for providing our customers with expedient, professional and empathetic support. This is a very fast paced position and we are looking for smart, high-energy and self-sufficient people to join our team. Preferred S...
Provide on call service for a commercial facilities services department. M-TH 6:00 PM to 8:00 AM F-S 6:00 PM through the end of Sunday Typically about 1 hour of work is required per on call session but you must be available at all times.
Like The Headline Says We Need Phone Support For E-Commerce Brand :)
Looking for call center or self worker to receive inbound customers calls and outbound customers calls in English full time.
The person has to receive some calls from our US customers.
Loooking for soemone to answer phone calls via voip. The business only gets 10 calls a month. This will be an ongoing contract and need 24/7 coverage


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RFID is a 70-year-old technology that involves bouncing radio waves off antennas in order to locate and identify objects. Retailers are showing a renewed interest in the technology. A few early attempts at deployment were not successful, as the technology, viewed by many as too expensive, was often imposed on suppliers against their will. Why has RFID picked back up in recent years? We think three trends have been driving adoption: accelerated shipping, omni-channel operations and the IoT.
It has become imperative that retailers know precisely where their inventory is, as many are now following Amazon's lead and offering two-day (and up to one-hour) shipping. It is no longer sufficient to take inventory once a week or once a month; retailers now need to know where their inventory is in real time, and in which hub, in order to be able to guarantee delivery within a specified time period.
Omni-channel operations can benefit from RFID for similar reasons. To successfully fulfill an online order or allow in-store pickup of it, a retailer must be confident that the product ordered is close to the customer, or that it can reach him or her within the promised amount of time. For brick-and-mortar stores to take on the function of shipping hubs, retailers need to know precisely what inventory is on the shelves at all times.
Finally, there has been an explosion in the number of things that are connected to the Internet as part of the IoT trend—and the identity and location of each of these things must be tracked. The IoT has spurred the development of new applications and services, such as grocery tracking and medication adherence tracking, and RFID is one technology that can enable such functionality.
With RFID tags now costing only pennies apiece, cost no longer seems to be as big a concern for retailers as it once was. Installation of an RFID system could still cost a couple of hundred thousand dollars or more, most of it in software and services, but since e-commerce companies are continually setting the standard in terms of convenience, shipping times and certainty that goods will arrive, retailers cannot afford to wait any longer to adopt RFID.
RFID technology does have its limitations: humans must still be involved in the process, which means that data is sometimes entered incorrectly, and systems are sometimes unable to read tags due to interference from other signals. There are some concerns about privacy, too, but overall, the technology continues to improve. During the last five years, we have seen several major brands and retailers move forward with RFID installations, suggesting that the technology has finally hit its sweet spot in retail.
Although RFID dates back to discoveries during World War II and saw its first patent filings in 1973, its use in the US has been sporadic. It has promised much for retail: an accurate view of inventory and the ability to track what is in the storeroom and what is on the shelves in real time. However, until recently, retailers have generally shunned the technology due to fears that it is too costly to install and too difficult to manage. Moreover, many retailers that have dabbled with RFID, such as Walmart, have ended up deploying it in a more limited way than originally planned. So, what is different today that could drive retailers to part with their precious dollars and adopt a new technology? We think a key driver is the shortening of shipping times, led by Amazon. The need to offer faster shipping has led many other retailers to implement omni-channel operations as quickly as possible, and RFID is one technology that enables this.
Accelerated Shipping
Amazon launched its Prime service in 2005—with free two-day shipping on selected items—and it has set the standard for all other e-commerce companies and operations. Since then, Amazon has introduced one-day shipping (for an extra fee) and accelerated shipping times of one or two hours through its Prime Now service. Many brick-and-mortar retailers have had to offer faster shipping in order to compete, and some have partnered with local delivery startups to offer same-day delivery.
Although more and more companies have moved into omni-channel retailing over the past several years, the reality is that, even today, most retailers operate their brick-and-mortar and e-commerce businesses separately, each with its own inventory. But the traditional method of operating a central distribution center is insufficient: it does not allow retailers to get goods to customers fast enough in an environment where those customers all expect accelerated shipping. Retailers must bring goods closer to customers in order to be able to deliver them faster.
To do so, some retailers have turned their brick-and-mortar stores into distribution centers. In order to guarantee two-day (or one-hour) shipping, a retailer must be certain that the goods are in close proximity to the customer and can indeed be delivered within the specified amount of time. Retailers risk customers' ire if they accept orders that they cannot deliver within the promised amount of time. This requires an accurate view of the inventory on the shelves and in the storeroom. If the closest distribution center, whether that is a warehouse or a brick-and-mortar store, does not have a particular item in inventory, then the retailer needs to be able to locate it in the next-closest center. This requires an accurate view of inventory across the distribution network.
The IoT
While there is much hype surrounding the IoT, it is a fact that an increasing number of intelligent electronic devices in our lives are being connected to the Internet. It is not just PCs, smartphones and wearable technology devices that are connected; our houses and automobiles have started to become connected, too. And Cisco Systems forecasts that 50 billion devices will be connected to the Internet by 2020. All of these things will need to be tracked and accounted for. Specifically, things belonging to the IoT need to be tagged somehow with an automatic identification technology, and RFID can serve this purpose. For example, RFID chips can be used to tag grocery items in order to help grocers monitor consumption and expiration. And RFID tags on prescription bottles can help companies ensure prescription adherence and monitor expiration dates.
According to market research firm IDTechEx, the global RFID market—for tags, interrogators, systems, services, networking and software—will reach approximately $13.9 billion this year and grow at a 17.0% CAGR through 2018.
In the graph below, we see that the industrial sector is currently the largest global RFID market, followed by transportation, retail, healthcare and education.
Within the above categories, RFID technology is used most extensively for the following applications:
The graph below shows the global RFID procurement market by geography. Market Info Group predicts that the fastest-growing regions will be Asia (predicted to grow at a 63% CAGR), followed by North America (at 45%), Europe (at 41%), and then Africa and South America (both at 24%), for a total CAGR of 47% during 2013–2020.
Chinese Market
China has been an enthusiastic user of RFID tags in smart cards and transit cards. Lux Research estimates that the Chinese RFID market will be worth about $719 million, comprising nearly 1.8 billion units, this year. The firm forecasts that the Chinese market will grow at a 12% CAGR in dollar terms and at a 19% CAGR in unit terms during 2012–2017.
Below, we list some of the revenue enhancements and cost savings that retailers can expect to achieve by implementing RFID.
Revenue Enhancements
Cost Savings
Applications in Apparel Manufacturing
Using RFID tags can provide additional value to apparel manufacturers, enabling them to track garments throughout the entire manufacturing process, from the factory to the distribution center to the retailer, as depicted in the figure below. RFID tags can also be used to verify the custody chain of luxury garments, enabling retailers to vouch for their authenticity.
When Walmart piloted a program in the early 2000s that required its top 100 suppliers to implement RFID systems, prices ranged between $500,000 and $1 million—and a $500,000 figure has thus stuck in the minds of CFOs ever since. However, that figure is largely inaccurate, and higher than what some companies would pay to implement an RFID system. According to Joseph Leone, a consultant with RFID Global Solution who worked on Walmart's implementation, RFID implementations can run from $15,000 for small vendors to $400,000 for larger vendors. Most companies that spend conservatively can implement RFID for less than $250,000 per facility, Leone says. Steve Halliday, President of High Tech Aid, a consulting firm, said, "Quotes of $200,000 to $300,000 are more common."
In the figure below, we see that the relevant hardware comprises less than half the cost of an RFID installation; the majority is made up of expense for integration, changes to supply chain applications, and data storage and analysis.
Below, we list the cost of the components of an RFID system, according to Atlas RFID Store, a US-based seller of enterprise RFID equipment.
There are also integrated RFID readers available, which contain both a reader and an antenna. Other kinds of equipment, such as RFID printers, RFID portals (which read the tags that pass through a doorway), and a variety of cables and adapters are available, too.
How RFID Works
An RFID system consists of two main parts:
Each tag consists of two parts: an integrated circuit (i.e., a chip) and an antenna. The chip holds data such as the serial number and the electronic product code that the host uses to determine information about the product that was tagged. The antenna is used to collect the energy needed to turn on the chip and transmit information back to the reader.
Tags can be either active or passive. An active tag supplies its own energy, while a passive tag captures and briefly stores small amounts of energy from the reader. The energy is used to produce a response by the tag in the form of information that is transmitted over a radio frequency. That information is then captured by the reader and interpreted by the host.
The diagram below illustrates the operation of an RFID system.
Different tags operate using different frequencies, so readers must be able to pick up specific frequencies (although some readers can read multiple frequencies). The three most common frequencies in use are low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF). UHF is the most common frequency used for retail applications.
Market researcher IDTechEx tracks more than 1,000 RFID companies globally and classifies them by RFID revenues, as shown in the figure below.
Selected RFID Suppliers
Zebra Technologies is a global leader in enterprise asset intelligence, designing and marketing specialty printers, mobile computing, data capture, RFID products and real-time location systems. The company claims to be number one in RFID, and its product portfolio includes RFID handheld readers, fixed readers, antennas and printers. Its RFID readers use passive UHF to provide high-speed, non-line-of-sight data capture, reading data from RFID tags in near real time using the electronic product code standard. Zebra also offers mobile computers that support HF near-field communications (NFC) and LF radio technologies.
Taiwanese conglomerate Yuen Foong Yu (YFY) has a subsidiary in its Technology Group called Arizon RFID Technology. The company manufactures antennas, chip packaging and inlay bonding, and designs and manufactures HF and UHF transponders and tags, plus complete RFID solutions. Arizon claims to be the largest manufacturer of RFID technologies in China and Taiwan and the second largest in the world.
Catalyst, a Li & Fung company, offers an end-to-end RFID solution for retailers; the company provides solutions for tagging, inventory, improving the customer experience and security. The company offers a range of customer experience products, including the Catalyst Smart Screen, which allows customers to interact and engage with a simple touch screen. When a customer takes a garment to the screen, the system automatically displays a completed look and other product information. The Catalyst Smart Fitting Room triggers content on a screen when a garment is taken into a fitting room. When a customer product is placed on the Catalyst Smart Tray, it reads the RFID tag and automatically displays additional product information, features and benefits via images, video and audio; the tray has been used for both cosmetics and footwear. Finally, Catalyst ePay integrates with point-of-sale systems to enable the simultaneous scanning of multiple items.
Other RFID product vendors:
There is also a wide spectrum of companies in China supplying various RFID components and systems. The figure below classifies several of them.
Many retailers have experimented at one time or another with various RFID implementations. In the last five years, we have seen many major retailers implement the technology.
Walmart's early experience with RFID is well documented, and it likely resulted in the rest of the retailing industry resisting the technology for a number of years. In 2003, the company began requiring that its top 100 suppliers attach RFID tags to pallets and cases of goods sent to Walmart distribution centers. Many suppliers resisted, believing the technology had high costs and few benefits. In the face of this resistance, Walmart reconfigured its strategy in 2007.
G-Star Raw, which took part in a "magic mirror" demonstration with Impinj at the National Retail Federation's Retail's Big Show in 2016. The mirror offers product information on a large screen when a shopper approaches the screen with a tagged item in hand. Kenneth Cole, L.L.Bean and New Balance are also reportedly testing versions of this technology. Impinj claims to have shipped 3 billion RFID chips in 2015.
Inditex plans to use RFID technology for inventory management, which will be in place in more than 2,000 Zara stores by the end of the year.
Kohl's, in partnership with Checkpoint Systems, launched a pilot program testing RFID in 2012 and has since expanded the program to cover strategic apparel items that include footwear, denim and men's basics, such as underwear and T-shirts.
Levi's was an early adopter of RFID and uses the technology to help both customers and associates locate specific sizes of jeans, which can look similar when stacked on a store shelf.
Lucky Brand opened two stores in the summer of 2015 outfitted with an RFID system from Catalyst that enables customers to view how a garment looks on a model, learn more about the garment and find out which sizes are available in the store or online.
Macy's began pilot-testing RFID technology in its SoHo Bloomingdale's location. Following initial testing on fashion apparel, the company began putting RFID tags on items such as social occasion dresses and men's jackets in late 2014. Most recently, Macy's launched an RFID system from Tyco called Pick to the Last Unit (P2LU) for omni-channel fulfillment.
Marks & Spencer tagged about 80% of its items last year and aims to tag 100% of its items by 2017. Currently, 100% of the clothing the retailer sells is RFID tagged, as are half of homeware items, such as bedding, bathroom products and soft furnishings. The company uses tags from Avery Dennison.
Ralph Lauren launched eight RFID-enabled interactive fitting rooms in late 2015 at its Polo Ralph Lauren flagship store in New York City. In partnership with Oak Labs, the technology offers a smart mirror with a touch screen and a built-in RFID reader that identifies the RFID tags on garments brought into the fitting room. Following pilot testing, the company plans to install these types of fitting rooms in additional stores.
Rebecca Minkoff's store in the SoHo district of New York City uses RFID tags from Avery Dennison, along with technology from eBay and other vendors, to identify garments brought into the changing room, where they activate a magic mirror.
Salvatore Ferragamo is embedding microchips in its bags and shoes in an effort to combat counterfeiting. The company initially inserted RFID chips in the left soles of women's shoes starting in 2014 and has subsequently expanded its tagging program to include men's shoes, women's leather goods and luggage.
In 2015, Target announced the launch of an RFID-tagging program. The company planned to start with a dozen stores and expand the use of the technology to all 1,795 of its stores in the US in 2016.
There is much discussion and confusion as to which identification technology is the best. We believe the appropriate technology depends on an individual retailer's budget, range and application. Companies seem to be adopting technologies as follows: RFID appears to be the most appropriate for inventory management (as compared to NFC) due to its greater range (a whole shelf of garments can be scanned by a reader). NFC is being deployed in smartphones and payment terminals to facilitate electronic and mobile payments. Bluetooth low energy (BLE) is a variation of the Bluetooth technology present in most smartphones and tablets: it is enabling wearable technology and the IoT. Finally, quick response (QR) codes are 2D barcodes that are best used to guide visitors to product, news or other websites.
In addition to concerns about the cost of implementing RFID, there are two other key areas of concern that make many retailers hesitant to embrace the technology: privacy and accuracy.
Privacy is a natural concern with any technology that can be used for identification purposes, and many fear that RFID technology could be used for tracking individuals. However, these fears may be overblown. RFID tags have a limited range, so individuals can be tracked only when they are in the range of a reader. Also, the vast majority of applications are for tracking objects—the tags are readable only by a corresponding type of reader. We are not currently aware of any initiatives to use RFID technology for tracking people.
Another concern about RFID tags is their accuracy. For example, even if a tag is scanned and read by the reader correctly, the information may not be accurate. That is because the code is tied to information that was probably input by a human and is therefore subject to human error. Also, readers are not able to read every tag every single time, so some tags are missed. Moreover, interference from other electromagnetic signals, such as Wi-Fi, microwaves and Bluetooth, can also impede accuracy. Companies are dealing with interference by using special signal-blocking paints, and evolving RFID standards are steadily improving readers' ability to receive the correct signals from tags.
RFID is an old technology that finally seems to have found its sweet spot. Many retailers have begun to overcome their fears about the cost of implementing the technology. During the past five years, the need to offer accelerated shipping and seamless omni-channel operations has driven many companies to begin deploying RFID. And as the number of devices that are part of the IoT grows over the next several years, we are likely to see even further adoption of the technology in retail.


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Anni Cyrus Moment: Sentenced to Stoning in the Islamic Republic
By Jamie Glasov
Jihad Watch
January 28, 2016
This special edition of The Glazov Gang presents The Anni Cyrus Moment with Anni Cyrus, the show's producer.
Anni discussed Sentenced to Stoning in the Islamic Republic, asking if you know the name of the woman who was recently sentenced to death by stoning in Iran. If not, why not?
Don't miss it!
[Continue reading on Jihad Watch … ]


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Sunday, March 8, 2009
We Have Embryos!!!
20 comments:
- Emily said...
Wooo-hooooooooo!! Hooray for embies! Grow, grow, grow!!! So excited for you and hoping this has the happiest of endings!
- March 8, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Without a doubt it is a "HAPPY DANCE" occasion. Sending lots of love. pjb
- March 8, 2009 at 11:21 AM
- Carrie said...
Congrats! We were the exact same way - no positive pregnancy tests in 2 1/2 years... we grew very attached to the embryos more than we thought we would. Even my mom cried at the news that we had nine embryos out there! Very exciting!
- March 8, 2009 at 11:36 AM
- Alex and Jill said...
YAY!! This is wonderful news!
Continuing to pray for you and those embryos!
- March 8, 2009 at 1:11 PM
- Mo and Will said...
Whoo hoo! What a great report! Will definitely have you guys firmly in my thoughts.
Keep dividing little embryos!
- March 8, 2009 at 1:42 PM
- mommy of girls said...
I am sooooooo super excited for you! Can't wait to see what the next steps on your journey are. I am just thrilled that you have babies in the making. You have created LIFE...now we just want it to be in the form of a little bundle in your arms!! So...that's what I'll be praying for. Keep the faith, doll! Love ya!
- March 8, 2009 at 2:21 PM
- Xbox4NappyRash said...
wow. great.
best of luck.
- March 8, 2009 at 4:40 PM
- womb for improvement said...
Cool! Hope it goes well tomorrow.
- March 8, 2009 at 4:56 PM
- Bee Bee said...
I am so happy for you! Good luck with transfer; I really hope that everything keeps going your way.
- March 8, 2009 at 5:27 PM
- Courtney said...
YAY for embroys! Thats sounds promising- we need a nice good transfer and some embryos to grow some tenacles to stick to the sides of the welcoming uterus!!
- March 8, 2009 at 6:44 PM
- who said life is fair said...
awesome! totally pulling for you!
- March 8, 2009 at 7:01 PM
- rgram962 said...
I am absolutely thrilled for you!!! This is the most exciting news! I love you!!!
- March 8, 2009 at 10:44 PM
- The secret diary of an infertile said...
Sounding good. Good luck for tomorrow.
- March 9, 2009 at 7:16 AM
- Jane G said...
Fantastic news! Praying for you and your little embies. Best of luck with the transfer.
- March 9, 2009 at 8:32 AM
- just me said...
2:15 p.m. today.......I will be praying fervently for you! I am soooooooooooo excited!!! It is amazing that you ended up with 15 eggs and 9 embryos - WOW!!! My SIL will have her transfer tomorrow and I am still waiting :-)
- March 9, 2009 at 1:09 PM
- Lea said...
Hurray! Good luck today!!!!
- March 9, 2009 at 2:21 PM
- LANIE said...
This is wonderful!!! keep growing little babies in the making! I will be saying prayers tomorrow, that every goes very smoothly...love, lanie
- March 9, 2009 at 9:06 PM
- Angelwingsbaby said...
Congrats how exciting! Hang in there.I will be thinking of you! -Megan
- March 9, 2009 at 10:38 PM
- Lorraine said...
Throw my good wishes on the pile - I am always so happy for the good news of anyone going through this.
I wish you the best!
- March 10, 2009 at 12:42 AM
- bella1021 said...
Yeah!! That is awesome news!!
Good luck!!!
- March 10, 2009 at 2:03 PM


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Play as a German Shepherd named Pluto and explore the enchanted climates of planet Earth and the asteroid 433 Eros. Visit an Arctic Ocean wind farm, Kochiri Forest, a computer OS, a cluttered desk, a union-busting prairie in Kansas, a private jet, a flooded city at the North Pole, and many more fevered landscapes.
Written, assembled, and with an original score by David Kanaga, composer of Proteus, Panoramical and Dyad, Oikospiel's soundtrack is "100 percent intertwined with the game" (PC Gamer), featuring a lush variety of interactive musical experiences woven together into an operatic whole.
Check out these games from the IndieCade database!


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Healthcare Purchasing News
Bill McKnight, a gentle giantFebruary 27, 2012
I last talked with our magazine's founder, Bill McKnight, about six years ago. Despite having sold the magazine many years ago, he was typically gracious and helpful for an article I was writing. Bill died this month at age 83.


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Words containing cairnr
Found 1 words containing cairnr. Browse our Scrabble Word Finder, Words With Friends cheat dictionary, and WordHub word solver to find words that contain cairnr. Or use our Unscramble word solver to find your best possible play! Related: Words that start with cairnr
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Boy, do we have a packed podcast this weekend!! It's all here!
All the links referred to are listed below - you won't want to miss out on any of this!
It's alive and kicking this weekend!
The usual links...
Grandad claims UFO knocked him off his bike;
New Study offers support for 'Telephone Telepathy';
Trish LeSage' (special guest) website with everything you ever wanted to know about parallel universes, her books can be purchased here too;
Track featured on show; "Synergy" by Translunar (Darrel Farnsworth) -check his site!
The PodcastUFO show featuring Nick Redfern (WELL worth listening to!)
This is the link to the show that hosted Nick Redfern as a guest when he talked about his book "Bloodline Of The Gods" in the first hour, it was a fantastic show and Nick's research is compelling stuff, if you have a chance to listen to the second half of the show, Nick goes on to talk about Men In Black, Women In Black and even Black-Eyed Children!
And of course, not forgetting Dark Journalist's latest interview with Jim Marrs... Jim's latest book "Population Control, Crossfire and Rule by Secrecy' is looked at in detail and he doesn't pull any punches. I note as well that this particular video is really pulling in commentary!
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March 2016


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7 marketing mistakes in SPA business
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By Dr. Mercola
That Monsanto has a phenomenal level of influence over American legislators and regulators is well known, but the latest gift to the biotech industry is really over the top. A stunning rider, ironically named "the Farmers Assurance provision" (Section 733), has been added to the 2013 Agricultural Appropriations bill, aka the Farm Bill. This provision, if passed into law, will essentially grant biotech companies like Monsanto free reign to act with impunity.
This rider would allow biotech crops to be planted even if a federal court has ordered planting to be halted until an Environmental Impact Statement has been completed. It also puts restrictions on regulations, and allows fast-track approval of genetically engineered (GE) crops, despite the fact that the US is already the only developed country that does not require safety testing of GE plants.
Danielle Stuart, a Monsanto spokeswoman, has stated the bill "provides an assurance for farmers growing crops which have completed the U.S. regulatory review process that their harvest won't be jeopardized by subsequent legal disputes."1
Are Biotech Companies About to Gain Immunity from Federal Law?
The rider was added by the agricultural sub-committee chair Jack Kingston (R-Ga.). Not surprisingly, Kingston was voted "legislator of the year for 2011-2012" by the Biotechnology Industry Organization. The featured article by Alexis Baden-Mayer and Ronnie Cummins2 spells out the many problems with this "Monsanto protection act," snuck in by biotech's inside man:
- The Monsanto Rider is an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers. Judicial review is an essential element of U.S. law, providing a critical and impartial check on government decisions that may negatively impact human health, the environment or livelihoods...
- Judicial review is a gateway, not a roadblock... The ability of courts to review, evaluate and judge an issue that impacts public and environmental health is strength, not a weakness, of our system...
- It removes the "legal brakes" that prevent fraud and abuse. In recent years, federal courts have ruled that several USDA GE crop approvals violated the law and required further study of their health and environmental impact. These judgments indicated that continued planting would cause harm to the environment and/or farmers and ordered interim planting restrictions pending further USDA analysis and consideration. The Monsanto rider would prevent a federal court from putting in place court-ordered restrictions, even if the approval were fraudulent or involved bribery.
- It's unnecessary and duplicative. Every court dealing with these issues is supposed to carefully weigh the interests of all affected farmers and consumers, as is already required by law. No farmer has ever had his or her crops destroyed as a result. USDA already has working mechanisms in place to allow partial approvals, and the Department has used them, making this provision completely unnecessary.
- It shuts out the USDA. The rider would not merely allow, it would compel the Secretary of Agriculture to immediately grant any requests for permits to allow continued planting and commercialization of an unlawfully approved GE crop. With this provision in place, USDA may not be able to prevent costly contamination episodes like Starlink or Liberty Link rice, which have already cost farmers hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. The rider would also make a mockery of USDA's legally mandated review, transforming it into a 'rubber stamp' approval process.
- It's a back-door amendment of a statute. This rider, quietly tacked onto an appropriations bill, is in effect a substantial amendment to USDA's governing statute for GE crops, the Plant Protection Act. If Congress feels the law needs to be changed, it should be done in a transparent manner by holding hearings, soliciting expert testimony and including full opportunity for public debate.
Anti-GMO Activist Vandana Shiva: 'Find the Right Thing to Do. That is Your Duty'
If ever there were a rock star in the battle over genetically engineered seeds and foods, Vandana Shiva is the diva, according to Bill Moyers. Shiva, who has fought long and hard against Monsanto and other corporate giants like Coca-Cola, founded Navdanya, a group whose goal is to restore native seeds to India, and to support small farmers in their efforts at self-sufficiency without dependence on genetically engineered products.
Although she acknowledges that the battle she's fighting is an uphill one, she doesn't let it get her down. Duty comes before thoughts of outcome, in the Hindu spiritual teachings. What's important, she told Moyers in a recent interview, is to find out what the right thing to do is, and then just do that.
Our legislators would do well to listen to such wisdom.
Call to Strike the "Monsanto Protection Act"
The Farmers Assurance provision, dubbed the Monsanto Protection Act by Food Democracy Now, is a perfect example of just how insidious the collusion between the biotech industry and Washington really is, and how easily and nonchalantly they undermine our most basic rights.
In response, 38 food business, retailers, consumer-, family farm-, environmental- and public interest groups have expressed their opposition to the provision in a letter sent to Harold Rogers (Chair, Committee on Appropriations) and Norm Dicks (Ranking Member), asking for the provision to be stricken from the farm bill3 .
Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) has sponsored an amendment to the bill that would nullify Kingston's Monsanto-friendly provision. You can sign your name to a letter created by Food Democracy Now, asking your Representative to support DeFazio's amendment to strike Kingston's biotech-friendly "farmer assurance provision." The campaign letter can be found here.